Improvement in inflatable forms for displaying articles



T. J. &H. J. BRAUN. Inflatable Forms for Displaying Articles.

Patented Dec. 9, 1879.

Atte s1; Invent or l I hwfiom Man a il 6m N-FETERS, PHOTO-LITNDGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, Dv C.

ried out.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFnIcn;

THEODORE J. BRAUN AND HENRY J. BRAUN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN INFLATABLE FORMS FOR DISPLAYING ARTICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,344, dated December 9, 1879; application filed L May16,1879. I Hi L To all whom it-may concern:

" Be it known that we, THEODORE J. BRAUN and HENRY J. BRAUN, residents of the city of ticles of Wearing-Apparel and other Goods, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

Heretofore ithas been customary in displaying, articles of wearing -apparel to employ blocks or forms madeiofuvood, wire, or papiermach. Such forms are objectionable, not only from being heavy. and bulky, but, owing to their unyielding nature, they cannot be exactly adapted to the form or'size of the article being displayed, so as to fill it out in all its parts, and so as to give a correct impression of its outline.

It is the aim of the present improvement to provide means for obviating the objections referred to, and for furnishing a form that is not only adapt-able to anumber of sizes of the displayed article, but one that will fully fill outv and support every portion thereof.

The improvement is adaptable to a greatvariety of articles of wearing-apparel, such as dresses, coats, cloaks, vests, corsets, 'pantaloons, gloves, stockings, and shoes, and also to other articles composed of a flexible material and requiring apacking or stnffln g to properly exhibit their outlines.

It consists in an inflatable form composed of a flexible air-tight material, preferably rubber, and having such a shape when inflated as to fill out the article inclosin g the form. Various materials will answer in making these forms, provided they are air-tight and flexible; but to enable the form to be adaptable to several sizes of the displayed article, as well as to enable it to more thoroughly fill out every part of the article, it is desirable that the material of which the form is made should also be elastic. Also, the more closely the shape and size .of'the inflated form approximate to the shape and size of the article to be displayed, the more efl'ectuall'y the improvement will be car- In operation, the form is placed within the article, and inflated so as to properlyfill out the article, and then the air is confined within the form by means of a suitable valve.

To remove the form, the air is first discharged therefrom until it has collapsed sufficiently to be withdrawn from the article.

' The improvement is illustrated in connection with a shoe, as seen in the drawings, where A, Figure 1, represents a shoe, its side 5 being removed to show the form 13.. The latter has a body, I), and a top, I), in which is arranged a valve, (3. After inflating the form the tube 0 of the valve is screwed down upon the seat 0, preventing the escape of the air.

By unscrewing the tube 0 the air can be discharged.

Fig. 2 shows the valve in section, We are aware that inflatable articles of wearing-apparel, such as bustles and bosom-pads, have heretofore been used, and we do' not lay 7 claim to such, our aim being to furnisha form that is inserted within the displayediarticle,

and that when inflated has a shape similar to and that fills out every part of the article; and i i L We claim i 1. An inflatable form for displaying articles of wearing-apparel, such form being inelosed within the displayed article, and having a shape similar thereto, and filling out every portion thereof, substantially as described.

2. An inflatable form composedof air-tight flexible elastic material, such form being inclosed within the displayed article, and hay-- .ing a shape similar thereto, and filling out every portion thereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the shoe Aand the inflatable form B, said shoe and form being of similar shape, and the latter having the valve 0., substantially as described.

Witness our hands. I

T. J BRAUN. H. J. BRAUN.

Witnesses:

OnAs. D. MooDY, PAUL BAKEWELL. 

